Ashamed of Missouri, My Home State

Today I saw a heart-breaking article in the local paper about a same-sex couple.   One of the partners, a state trooper, was killed in the line of duty.  His partner of 15 years sued the state for death benefits.  The surviving partner has a son and the two men had been raising the child together.  The state Supreme Court upheld that in Missouri marriage is only between a man and a woman and since they could not get married the partner was not eligible for the death benefits. (http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/missouri-high-court-denies-benefits-to-same-sex-survivor-of/article_9f33760e-ede1-5278-80b1-7e784edf0c0b.html )

I cannot refute that I live in a state which does not recognize my marriage to my spouse, but a law so discriminatory is wrong. I am still angry that a majority of my fellow Missourians got to define what my life should be. I did not get to vote on what heterosexual relationships could be.  Today I was reminded why I am ashamed to be from this state. 

As I type the state of Hawaii is deciding on allowing same-sex marriage.  The state has civil unions, but not marriage.  Some in Hawaii are arguing that same-sex marriage does not significantly improve the legality of same-sex couples in their state.  Furthermore, if same-sex couples want to be married for federal purposes they can just go to another state and get married.  Because it is just a hop-skip & a jump to California or Washington from Hawaii.  No driving 5 hours to Iowa for you, Hawaiians.

I want to send the legislators of Hawaii a link to the article about the Missouri couple with a note that says, "This is why you should vote yes on same-sex marriage."



Kelly Glossip, seated, and Dennis Engelhard pose for a portrait together.

To Kelly Glossip I send my heartfelt condolences for all that you have lost, but know you are not alone in your struggle to seek equality.

Green Ink!

I love my knit tribe.  I know I have said that before, but it is true.  One night I was trapped in a commercial for Ink Joy pens. I noticed that green was a one of the ink colors.  I tweeted I had to have some of those green pens.  Like magic, one of my knit tribe shows up with four green Ink Joy pens for me.  She apparently had a surplus of colored ink pens.  Thank you, Kara, and thank you knit tribe for being so awesome.

Yarn Stash, Part Deux

First I do not speak French or even pretend to speak French, so please forgive the pretentiousness of the title.  I think I am trying to convey the ridiculousness of my yarn stash by using a highfalutin French word.  In literature this language could even denote the beginning of a mock epic. Now that I have established the silliness of which I am capable, I will move along. 

Today I walked by my mail chubby at work and found a ball of yarn with a single size 10.5 knitting needle shoved into it.  I must admit I looked around to see if this was some sort of joke played on the flakey records lady.  Next came the double take of is there really a ball of yarn in my chubby.  With a little effort I got the ball of yarn out of the small space and ascertained that yes there was only one needle stuck in it.  I scratched my head, yup even in a jail yarn falls out the sky to land in my yarn stash.

Later a co-worker admitted that she was cleaning out her craft room and found the yarn and thought about me.  She did not really explain the lone needle, but you know I think I can let that mystery wait for another day.  Apparently, my yarn stash is  becoming like a planet with a gravitational pull, it is attracting random balls of yarn from other people's homes. Why can't money come to me as easily as yarn does?

Yarn Stash

I admit I have a yarn stash problem.  Admitting it is the first step, right?  I will not divulge the size of my stash, but let's just say it is embarrassing in proportion.  Anyway, recently I found a pattern which has helped me eat up some of my single skein stash issues.  I like that in a pattern.

However, the oddest thing happens when I have a new pattern I want to try, I never have the right yarn and have to buy more.  I am not really complaining, I like buying yarn. But how is it with such an impressive yarn stash I am always one skein short of a sweater?

First Sweater, First Sweater Failure

I made a resolution to knit a sweater this year(http://tempestinapot.blogspot.com/2013/01/resolute.html).  And I did knit a sweater.  Resolution complete.  I just wish I had said I was going to knit a sweater I could wear.  Sadly, I did not.

I found a pattern I really liked which looked within my knit-abilities.  The pattern was called, saddle shoulder color block top, straightforward title, straightforward knitting.  Because I am a proud, plus-size woman I knit the larger size.  I did not want a tight fitting garment, but tired to not over knit the size.  I had done a gauge swatch and everything was going well, or so I thought.

It was the sleeves that got me.  I have small shoulders. I did knit the sleeves to a smaller size, I have been to this rodeo before and knew to be careful.  Apparently, I was not careful enough.  I sewed the in set sleeves and recognized fairly quickly there was a problem.  A big problem, too much sleeve. 

Though I am the boss of my knitting, I did take the problem to my knit group.  One of my friends did an internal crochet seamed to help with the problem.  With the help of another friend I added a few rows of a crochet edge to give me more fabric to work with.  In the end, it was not enough.  The top is just too big, my shoulders too small, and I can't keep the sweater from falling down my arms.  Epic knitting fail, but at least I can say I knit my sweater.